Attention turned to the Wessex League Cup tonight as the visitors were Tadley Calleva, currently second in Wessex Division 1 and the sparse crowd was treated to an entertaining match, only decided in the dying minutes. Jared Wetherick returned to the side having served a suspension.
Newport kicked off attacking the Allotment end with the rain that swept across the ground in their backs. Within two minutes Emerson Tattersall had weaved his way through the defence but he shot straight at Kieron Greene. A free kick from Josh Younie was turned away by Kieron Greene, near the base of the post.
With 17 minutes gone, Aiden Sainsbury cut in from the right but his shot across the face of the goal narrowly missed the far post.
Tadley first serious shot came on 21 minutes when Sam Hamilton found space on the edge of the penalty area but shot straight at Gary Streeter..
Newport took the lead on 29 minutes then scored a second a minute later, both from Jared Wetherick.. The first saw him jinx through the defence before slotting it past Kieron Greene and the second was a curling shot from the edge of the penalty area that found the top corner of the net..
Newport had looked the better team in the first half and deserved their two goal lead but with the rain still sweeping across the pitch could this be a game of two halves.
Half Time Newport 2 Tadley Calleva 0
Newport made a half time substitution with Emerson Tattersall, who had been booked just before half time, replaced by Matt Gane.
In the opening two minutes both sides hit the post from close range.. Tadley pulled a goal back on 51 minutes when a looping cross from Alex Charlick was pushed away from under the bar from Gary Streeter into the path of Brett Denham who scrambled in it at the far post..
Newport’s third goal came on 63 minutes when Charlie Urry sent a high cross to the far post and Jared Wetherick nodded it in to compete his hat trick.
Tadley made a substitution bringing on Mario Nurse. Despite kicking into a gale, Newport continued to attack and brought on Alex Harmer for Josh Younie with 12 mintes remaining.
In the space of a minute Tadley were back in the match scoring twice, the first direct from a corner by Alex Charlick and the second from a penalty. Mario Nurse was brought down by Gary Streeter and although Gary Streeter saved Paul Coventry’s low penalty the Tadley forward reacted quickest to tap in the rebound.
Just when it seemed that the match would be decided on penalties, Jared Wetherick completed a fine individual display by scoring his fourth goal to settle the tie. He gathered the ball on the edge of the penalty area, turned his defender and fired a shot into the net giving Kieron Greene no chance. Newport then had six minutes to hang on to their lead which they managed without many scares to progress to the final sixteen of the competition.
A hard fought victory for Newport in a match played in atrocious conditions
Final Score: Newport 4 Tadley Calleva 3
NEWPORT
Gary Streeter, Will Quigley, Jacob Reynolds, Aiden Sainsbury, Spike Pearce, Darren Powell,
Josh Younie (Alex Harmer), Mark Taylor, Charlie Urry, Jared Wetherick (Kyle Drew), Emerson Tattersall (Matt Gane)
TADLEY CALLEVA
Kieron Greene, Charlie Hill, Alex Charlick, Harrison Slade, Daniel Vickers, Connor Thorne, Kallum Thomas, Daryll Phillips, Brett Denham, Paul Coventry, Sam Hamilton
Referee: Paul Sanderson Attendance 47
The Reserves drew 1-1 with East Cowes Vics Res but were beaten 4-3 on penalties in the John Stimpson Memorial Challenge Shield.